SLEEP TIGHT, RISE AND FIGHT

SLEEP TIGHT! BUT RISE AND FIGHT!

Isa. 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

The darkness in your bedroom reminds you that only moments before you were comfortably asleep, and now, for no obvious reason, you lie awake, staring at the digital glowing numbers on your clock that screams it is 3 am. Why in the world are you awake when you should be sleeping? What's more, this same thing has been reoccurring, and it has become extremely annoying, because it simply doesn't make sense. Each time it's happened, you searched your heart and prayed hoping that maybe you're actually being spiritual and prompted to intercede. Yet, Heaven seems silent, even though you have a growing impression something is not right and going on in the unseen quiet of the night. So, for too many nights without explanation, from one o'clock to three, you are awake.

I have lost count of how many people have told me that this very thing has been happening to them for many months now. They come from all age groups, vocations, male, female and many different levels of spiritual maturity. Furthermore, they all share the same experience producing the same question. Why am I waking up at the nearly the same time each night? Some of these people have also done their best to spend those moments praying, while others have related that they sense a sort of foreboding or evil skulking nearby. Its disconcerting, especially when the reasons for this are unclear.

As I've been seeking the Lord about these similar circumstances, and trying to grasp what is happening, I have come to a conclusion that needs to be considered, even though it could sound odd to those of you who read it. Please bear with me. I'm not inclined to elevate the powers of darkness, but I also know that they are very real and determined to cause the people of God damage and distress. So, as you read, test it with your spirit and the Word.

I am becoming increasingly convinced that there is a rising level of spiritual warfare, demonic activity and ungodly practices occurring in the twilight hours, while the saints sleep. I also believe these things are intentionally aimed at the people of God. The combination of these ungodly spiritual factors are disrupting sleep patterns while inadvertently causing the saints to rise to a posture of alert, even though the believers don't know what's really going on. Because of this, I also have the sense that a new level of focused intercession and spiritual responsibility are soon to emerge on the scene because God gives strength and grace to defeat our mounting foes. The question is; What can be done to deal with it?

We do not contend with flesh and blood, and we need to remember that the unseen enemies of God don't play fair. They attack when we sleep because when you're in a state of repose, your will is not necessarily engaged and you are vulnerable. But even though this is a handicap, this does not mean the enemy has to win.

I've learned by experience that as the enemy aims his weapons at me, I must bring myself into a posture of prayer and faith, cutting off all negative and ungodly works of darkness. I love Isaiah 54:17 because it reminds me that the demonically oriented weapons formed against me don't have to prosper. I can refuse, renounce and cancel all forms of witchcraft, hexes, vexes, incantations, spells, all ungodly judgments, evil desires and thoughts that have become like a destructive agent working against me. I must condemn those things, deny the emphasis of their words and remind myself that God's deliverance for me is part of my heritage as a believer in the Lord. So when I awake early in the morning, I speak out this wonderful promise given to me and set these truths into operation because of what Jesus did for me on the cross in granting me a place of spiritual authority. 

It wouldn't surprise me if before long there will be an growing number of believers being moved into place as spiritual watchman. Don't worry about getting your beauty rest! Let His grace strengthen you as He trains you to cooperate with Him in the wee hours of the morning. The enemy doesn't have to win. 

In conclusion, feed yourself from His word. Drink deep of the truths of His promises to you. You have been made more than a conqueror and can grow in the authority He has made available to you because of His amazing victory in the Cross and the resurrection. These are times for faith and not fear! Sleep well!